Shaft for a manually operated tool and a tool

ABSTRACT

The handle comprises an elongate shaft portion ( 3 ) with a handle end ( 3   a ), a tool end ( 3   b ), a longitudinal axis ( 5 ) and a pivot joint ( 4 ) comprising two joint members having a pivot axis ( 6 ) for rotating relative to each other and extending under an angle (α) relative to the longitudinal axis ( 5 ) and having swivel surfaces ( 10 ) which are in mutual engagement and slide against one another during rotation, in which the pivot joint ( 4 ) comprises a indentation mechanism comprising engagement means on one of the joint members, said engagement means being adapted to engage corresponding engagement means on the second joint member to determined a plurality of discrete mutual angle positions in respect of the two joint members. The engagement means comprises engagement faces, which are oblique, whereby the engagement may be released by subjecting the two joint members to oppositely directed torques exceeding a definite size and least one spring means is present for actuating the engagement means of the two joint members towards mutual engagement. The angle (α) between the longitudinal axis ( 5 ) and the pivot axis ( 6 ) is 20-70°.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a handle for a hand tool according tothe preamble of claim 1.

A handle of this art is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,673,307 which relatesto washing brush with adjustable head, said head being rotatable inplane parallel to the free ends of the bristles of the brush.

Especially the present invention relates to a handle for a manuallyoperated tool, comprising an elongate shaft portion with a handle endand a tool end, in which a straight line passing through the handle endand the tool end defines a longitudinal axis of the handle, a connectionportion for connection with a tool head and a pivot joint between thetool end of the shaft portion and the connection portion, said pivotjoint comprising two joint members having a pivot axis for rotatingrelative to each other and extending under an angle relative to thelongitudinal axis and having swivel surfaces which are in mutualengagement and slide against one another during rotation.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,128,800 discloses a brush, in which the handle isconnected with the brush head in such a manner that the handle may swingfrom one side to the other relative to the head, the angle between thelongitudinal axis of the handle and the axis of rotation being 90°. Oneof the joint members has engagement members in the form of a number ofradial indentations and the second joint member has engagement means inthe form of a radial rib respectively extending over an entire diameter.A screw is used for clamping the two joint members in a chosen mutualangle position. For changing of the angle positioning, the screw isloosened; the handle and the brush head are taken hold of by the handsand turned relative to each other, following which the screw istightened again.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,902,392 discloses a brush, the handle of which ispivotally mounted at the side of the brush head by means of a screwextending transversely through the brush head and determining a pivotaxis, whereby the angle between the longitudinal axis of the handle andthe pivot axis is approximately 50°. Apart from a friction, if any,between the movable members, no locking device for retaining the mutualposition of the head and the handle is mentioned. A gear mechanism atthe brush head is used in some embodiments for adjusting the anglebetween the handle and the head. Movement of these two members are notimpeded, and it is an object aimed at that the brush is to turn, if ithits a solid article during use. On one side it does not seemparticularly practical that for changing the angle between handle andhead the brush has to be lifted and the angle adjusted by turning of agear wheel, it is, on the other hand, not particularly practical that itis not sometimes possible to transfer a forceful twist from the brushhandle to the head or the other way round.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,273,192 discloses a paint roller with a shaft with apivot joint having a pivot axis angled 90° relative to the longitudinalaxis of the shaft. The pivot joint comprises two disc shaped serratedswivel surfaces and a nut-and-bolt mechanism for locking the joint in adesired position or releasing the joint for adjustment.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,860,902 discloses a paint roller with a shaft with oneor more pivot joints having pivot axes that are oblique relative to thelongitudinal axis of the shaft. The joints comprise disc shaped,possibly serrated swivel surfaces and nut-and-bolt mechanisms for eitherreleasing the joints for adjustment or locking the joints to keep thepositions obtained by the adjustment.

SUMMARY

The object of the invention is to provide a handle, which makes a toollike for instance a sweeping brush; a rake, a leaves rake, a push hoe, aweed hoe or some other tool, in particular a household or gardening toolhaving a preferably long handle, more flexible and easy to handle.

It will be appreciated edit a tool with a long handle, i.e. along-handled tool, in general is a tool with a long handle allowing auser holding the handle to keep his hands in a substantial distance fromthe tool head.

The object is attained by means of a handle of the type mentioned by wayof introduction, which is characterized by the features of thecharacterizing part of claim 1. Preferred embodiments are defined in thedependent claims 2-11.

In one embodiment the pivot joint comprises a indentation mechanismcomprising engagement means on one of the joint members, said engagementmeans being adapted to engage corresponding engagement means on thesecond joint member to determine a plurality of discrete mutual anglepositions in respect of the two joint members, the engagement meanscomprising engagement faces which are oblique in such a manner that theengagement may be released by subjecting the two joint members tooppositely directed torque forces exceeding a definite size, at leastone spring means being present for actuating the engagement means of thetwo joint members towards mutual engagement.

By combining the oblique angle and the indentation mechanism in thepivot joint is obtained that a tool by an active twist of the handle maybe adjusted to a definite angle between the head and the handle and thatthe angle chosen is then maintained as long as the forces acting on thetool do not exceed a certain size.

The engagement means are preferably closely spaced and equidistant. Inthis manner a bigger number of adjustment possibilities is attained.

In a preferred embodiment the engagement means of one of the pivot ofone of the swivel surfaces are constituted of indentations or elevationswith face areas extending substantially radial and obliquely convergingtowards the bottom of the individual indentation or to the summit of theindividual elevation relative to a direction in parallel with the pivotaxis, and that said spring means is a spring for biasing the two jointmembers against each other The oblique surfaces of the engagement meansensure that an applied torque on the two joint members relative to oneanother will make them slide away from each other against the force ofthe spring to release the engagement. When the torque is released aftera desired turning, the spring will again bring the two joint memberstowards each other in a new engagement between the engagement means.

The engagement means are preferably closely spaced and equidistant.Hereby, an increased number of adjustment possibilities are attained,and it is ensured that a new engagement between the engagement meanswill always be established, when an engagement breaking torque isreleased.

The engagement means may then adequately be teeth and intermediateindentations. Each tooth has preferably a triangular cross section in aplane in parallel with the pivot axis and perpendicular to the radiusfrom the pivot axis to the tooth. Moreover, the teeth have preferably avertex angle of 80-120°, preferably 90-110. This provides a goodengagement between the joint members for retention of a definiteadjustment, while an adequate torque on the handle about itslongitudinal axis will change the adjustment.

In a preferred embodiment the pivot joint comprises a pin, which isretained in one of the joint members and extends through the other jointmember coaxially with the axis of rotation, said pin being connectedwith a clamping member, whereby mutual rotation of the latter and thepin brings them into a mutual position, in which they allow the twojoint members to move away from each other along the axis of rotationagainst the influence of the spring to allow mutual turning of the twojoint members, while by turning to a second mutual position they impedesuch a movement. In this manner it becomes possible to lock the handleand the head in a chosen mutual position. The pin and the memberrotatable relative thereto may be a screw or a nut like in U.S. Pat. No.6,128,800.

However, the clamping member preferably comprises an eccentric portion,which is pivotal about an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis. In thismanner, a particularly easy and quickly operable locking possibility isprovided.

In a further preferred embodiment the spring is a coil spring positionedcoaxially about the pin between the second joint member and the clampingmember, an annular member being positioned coaxially about the pinbetween the spring and the clamping member and having a U-shaped crosssection along the axis of rotation, the spring abutting the bottom ofthe L and the legs of the U abutting the second joint member, when theclamping member is in the second position.

The elongate shaft portion may be rectilinear, in which case thelongitudinal axis will be coinciding with the centre axis of the shaftportion. Alternatively the shaft portion may be curved or S-shaped, asit is known per se.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail in the following by means ofan example of an embodiment with reference to the schematic drawing, inwhich

FIG. 1 is a lateral view of a brush with a handle according to theinvention,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the pivot joint in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED AND OTHER EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a brush with a brush head 1 with bristles and a rectilinearshaft portion 3 with a handle end 3 a and a tool end 3 b. The brush head1 is connected with the tool end 3 b of the shaft portion by means of apivot joint 4, whereby the brush head 1 is pivotal relative to the shaftportion 3 and its longitudinal axis 5 about a pivot axis 6 extendingunder an angle a of approximately 45° as indicated by the arrow 7.

The mutual position of the brush head 1 and the shaft portion 3 can belocked by means of a pivotal handle 24. A detailed explanation will begiven below.

FIG. 2 shows the pivot joint 4 in an exploded view with a first jointmember 8 for connection with the brush head 1 and a second joint member9 for connection with the tool end 3 b of the shaft portion 3. The twojoint members a, 9 each have a swivel surface 10 with engagement meansin the form of teeth 11 and intermediate indentations 12. The teeth havea triangular cross section with a vertex angle of approximately 100°.The indentations have a corresponding cross section. The leveldifference between the points of the teeth and the bottoms of theindentations is approximately 2 mm.

Centrally, relative to the swivel surface 10 and extendingperpendicularly thereto the first joint member is provided with acircular-cylindrical pin 13 with a through hole 14 at its free end.

By assembly of the pivot joint 4, the two joint members 8 and 9 arebrought together, the pin 13 penetrating through a through hole 15 inthe second joint member 9, whereby the two swivel surfaces 10 arebrought into abutment against one another, their respective teeth 11 andindentations 12 being in mutual engagement. The pin is passed further onthrough a coil spring 16, a ring member 17 with U-shaped cross section,a washer 18 and into a clamping member 19 with a through hole 20 in sucha manner that the hole 14 of the pin 13 is in alignment with the hole20. A locking pin 21 is pressed into the two holes 14 and 20 to keep thepivot joint assembled.

The clamping member 19 consists of an eccentric portion 23 and thehandle 24, and it may by means of the handle 24 be turned around thelocking pin 21 between the release position shown in FIG. 1 by a fullydrawn line and the locking position shown by a dot-and-dash line.

The hole 15 in the second joint member 9 has at its end closest to thefirst joint member 8 a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the pin13 with a suitable clear to avoid friction. In the opposite end the holehas a bigger diameter and the sidewalls of the hole are there providedwith axial ribs 25 cooperating with indentations 26 in the surface ofthe ring member 17 in such a manner that the latter cannot pivot aboutthe pivot axis when it has been accommodated in the hole 15.

A radial extending shoulder 27 forms a transition between the two endsof differing diameter in the hole 15. This shoulder 27 constitutes anabutment face for the ring member 17 and the coil spring 16.

The ring member 17 has an internal diameter enabling it to receive thecoil spring 16. The ring member has due to its U-shaped cross section anannular flange 28 extending around the pin 13, when the pivot joint 4 isassembled, a suitable clear being provided between the pin 13 and theannular flange 28 for prevention of friction. The annular flange 28forms the bottom of the U and constitutes an abutment for the coilspring 16.

The ring member 17 is at its end surface 29 corresponding to the freeends of the legs of the U provided with a two-parted helicoid surface,as will be seen from FIG. 2, and the shoulder 27 is correspondinglydesigned. Thereby, the mutual turning of the joint member 9 and the ringmember 17 will bring about an adjustment of the distance between theshoulder 27 and the annular flange 28, when the ring member 17 is inabutment against the shoulder 27. This may be used for compensation ofproduction tolerances and adjustment of an abutment pressure in a lockedposition, which will be described in detail in the following. Thedivision in two of the helicoid surfaces ensures that there is always amutual symmetrical abutment between the helicoid surfaces around thepivot axis 6.

The eccentric portion 23 of the clamping member 19 is provided with anabutment surface 30 extending eccentrically relative to the hole 20.Thus, the distance from the hole 20 and consequently the locking pin 21to the abutment point against the washer 18 and consequently the ringmember 17 is smaller, when the clamping member 19 is in its releaseposition than when the clamping member 19 is in the locking position.

When the clamping member 19 is in the locking position, all members ofthe pivot joint 4 are tightly clamped, i.e. the engagement means of theswivel surfaces 10 are fully engaged, the ring member 17 is in abutmentagainst the shoulder 27, the washer 18 is in abutment against the ringmember 17 and the abutment surface 30 of the clamping member 19 is inabutment against the washer 18. It is therefore not possible for theengagement means 11, 12 on the two swivel surfaces 10 to becomedisengaged, for which reason the pivot joint 4 is locked in itsposition.

When the clamping member 19 is moved to the release position, thedistance from the shoulder 27 to the abutment surface 30 is increased,and therefore the coil spring 16 will push the ring member 17 slightlyin a direction out of the hole 15, whereby a clear between the ringmember 17 and the shoulder 27 is provided. The coil spring takes care ofmaintaining a certain tension in the remaining of the abovementionedabutments.

In the latter position, it is possible for the two joint members 8 and 9to recede from each other, if for instance a person using the brush witha firm grip around the shaft portion 3 twists it about the longitudinalaxis 5 and thus subjects the pivot joint 4 to a torque. If the brush iskept in a normal position of use with the handle oblique relative to thesurface to be worked, said surface will through the brush head yieldresistance against the twisting movement. Then, the oblique surfaces ofthe teeth 11 on the two swivel surfaces 10 slide against one another andpush the pivot members 8 and 9 from each other, until the mutualengagement of the joint members 8 and 9 is released, and the two pivotmembers 8 and 9 are turned relative to each other until the teeth 11fall into place in the next indentation 10. Thus, the two pivot members8 and 9 will be turned stepwise relative to each other, until the userstops twisting the shaft portion 3. The brush may be used in the newposition until a certain torque-providing load is applied. If this loadis exceeded and if it is desired to maintain the position, the pivotjoint 4 may be locked by means of the handle 24.

The user may control the handle 24 by his foot. The brush and itsadjustment may thus take place without the need for the user to leavehis upright working position and without the brush having to be lifted.

The first pivot member 8 intended for connection with the brush head haspreferably a pin 31, not shown in detail, for connection with the brushhead. This pin 31 may be designed in the same manner as a common handleend whereby the handle described may replace a common handle not only ofa brush, but alternatively of a rake, a leaves rake, a floor scrubber, aweed hoe and in all other places, where a handle with the describedturning function is desired. It is also possible to construct the pin 31and thus the first pivot joint 8 integral with the tool head inquestion.

1. A handle for a hand tool, comprising a shaft member having alongitudinal axis and a first end adapted for handling by a user and asecond end adapted for coupling to a tool head and a pivot joint coupledto the shaft member and configured to reposition the tool head, thepivot joint including a first swivel surface and a second swivel surfacethat are substantially parallel and oriented in planes oblique to thelongitudinal axis, the oblique planes having a normal axis forming anangle substantially within the range of 20 degrees to 70 degrees withthe longitudinal axis, and a clamping member configured to position theswivel surfaces in a first position and a second position, so that theswivel surfaces are substantially restricted from relative movement inthe first position and the swivel surface are capable of relativemovement in the second position against the influence of a springmember.
 2. The handle for a hand tool of claim 1 wherein the tool headis movable about the normal axis.
 3. The handle for a hand tool of claim1 wherein the tool head is positionable in a plurality of positionsdefined by the relative movement of the swivel surfaces.
 4. The handlefor a hand tool of claim 1 wherein the swivel surfaces are substantiallycircular.
 5. The handle for a hand tool of claim 1 wherein the swivelsurfaces comprise a series of coacting ridges and valleys.
 6. The handlefor a hand tool of claim 5 wherein the ridges and the valleys are aseries of teeth having a substantially triangular cross-section.
 7. Thehandle for a hand tool of claim 1 wherein the spring member isconfigured to bias the swivel surfaces into an abutting relationship. 8.The handle for a hand tool of claim 1 wherein the clamping membercomprises a lever member having an eccentric portion.
 9. The handle fora hand tool of claim 1 wherein the angle is substantially within therange of 30 degrees to 60 degrees.
 10. The handle for a hand tool ofclaim 1 wherein the angle is substantially within the range of 40degrees to 50 degrees.
 11. The handle for a hand tool of claim 1 whereinthe angle is substantially 45 degrees.
 12. A tool having a shaft and atool head, comprising a pivot mechanism operably coupled between atleast a portion of the shaft and the tool head, the pivot mechanismincluding a first surface and a second surface configured in asubstantially parallel relationship defining an oblique plane relativeto the shaft, the surfaces having coacting engagement structure, and aclamping device having a handle movable between a first position wherethe coacting engagement structure is configured to substantiallyrestrict relative movement between the first surface and the secondsurface and a second position where the coacting engagement structure isconfigured to permit relative movement between the first surface and thesecond surface, so that the tool head may be repositioned relative to atleast a portion of the shaft.
 13. The tool of claim 12 wherein thecoacting engagement structure comprise teeth.
 14. The tool of claim 12further comprising a spring configured to bias one of the surfaces awayfrom the other of the surfaces.
 15. The tool of claim 14 wherein thehandle includes a cam portion configured to prevent separation of thesurfaces when the handle is in the first position and configured topermit separation of the surfaces by the spring when the handle is inthe second position.
 16. The tool of claim 12 wherein the surfaces havea substantially common normal axis and at least one of the surfaces isconfigured to rotate relative to the other of the surfaces when thehandle is in the second position.
 17. The tool of claim 16 wherein thepivot mechanism further comprises a pin member extending at leastpartially along the normal axis.
 18. The tool of claim 17 wherein thehandle is pivotally coupled to the pin member.
 19. A tool having a shaftincluding a first end coupled to a tool head and a second end having agrip portion, the tool comprising a pivot mechanism operably coupledbetween at least a portion of the tool head and the grip portion, thepivot mechanism including a first surface and a second surfaceconfigured in a substantially parallel relationship defining an obliqueplane relative to the shaft, the surfaces having mutually engagablestructure, and a clamping device having a handle movable between a firstposition where the structure are engaged to restrict movement betweenthe surfaces and a second position where the structure are disengaged topermit movement between the surfaces, so that the tool head may beangularly repositioned relative to the shaft.
 20. The tool of claim 19wherein the clamping member further comprises a spring configured tobias one of the surfaces away from the other of the surfaces and permitrelative rotation of the surfaces about an a common normal axis of thesurfaces.